Method of and machine for forming and applying wire cover clamps to baskets and the like



July 6 1926. 1,591,145

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING WIRE COVER SCHMIDTKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLAMPS T0 BASKETS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 6. 1923 ATTORNEY Awarz ismmmer wrrNzssEs July 6,1926. 7 1,591,145

A H. SCHMIDTKE METHOD OF AND MACHINE i OR FORMING AND APPLYING WIRE COVER CLAMPS TO BASKETS AND THE LIKE A. H. SCHMIDTKE METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING WIRE COVER CLAMPS T0 BASKETS AND THE LIKE I AZfisrZ 'a/g I INVENTOR WITN ESSEB July 6 1926. 1,591,145

A. H. SCHMIDTKE METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING WIRE covmz CLAMPS '10 BASKETS AND THE LIKE NEW WITNESSES 89 I s A 0' i I i7 ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. SCHMID'IKE, on ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ST. JOSEPH IRON wonxs, on ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

METHOD OI AND MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING WIRE COVER GLAllllIES T BASKETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 6, 1923.

matic and easily controlled machine for applying wire cover clamps to the top rims of ill baskets and similar receptacles. One object is to provide amachine ofthis character which will affix the cover clamp by, means of one forming and driving head, so that simplicity of construction and operation is attained.

The preferred embodiment of the invention forms a clampwith one long arm and one short arm and drives the short arm through the rim of the basket and thereafter bends the end of the short arm against the inside of the basket, simultaneously bending the long arm to project vertically above the basket rim.

My invention further aims to provide a novel method of forming and afiixing wire cover clamps to baskets.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, which show an illustrative machine embodying the invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a machine for applying wire clamps to baskets;

F 2 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the position of a basket when the clamp is being applied;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale showing part ofthe wire feeding and clamp forniing and applying mechanisms; I

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the position of certain parts immediately after the short leg of the clamp has been driven through the basket rim;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the clamp with both legs bent;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clinching or -\\'il'e bending roller bar separately;

Fig. 9 is a detail View in vertical section showing the means by which the clamp forming bar is retracted after the clamp is shaped;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing a clamp applied to a basket; and

Fig. 11 is a'similar view showing a basket cover held to the basket by one of the clamps.

Referring more specifically to the preferred embodiment of my invention Shown Serial No. 667,008.

in the drawings, there is shown a machine having a base 15 and a main frame 16 integral with or secured to the base. Upon the frame 16 at a convenient height, a basket supporting arm 17 is mounted and extends outwardly therefrom, as shown in l igs. 1, 8 and 5, to support the basket during the clamp-aflixing process. At the upper end of the frame 16, there is a head 18 de-- signed to support the clamp forming, driving and securing mechanisms.

The base 15 has a bearing bracket 19 and the frame 16 hasan alined bearing 20 for a main drive shaft 21, Whose pulley 22 may be driven by a belt (not shown), or which may be directly connected with an electric motor or other prime mover. The shaft 21 has a pinion 23 driving a clutch gear 24 fast to countershaft 25; and adjacent the clutch gear there is a single-stroke positive pin clutch 26 provided with a stop latch 26" (Figs. 3 and 4) having a pin-and-slot connection witha rocker arm 27 (Fig. 3), fast to a rock shaft 28 which is turned in bracket 29 by pedal 30. The shaft 21 is of'course constantly driven, and drives clutch gear 24 continuously; but the clutch 26 engages only when the pedal 30 is depressed; and after the clutch has been rotated a single turn, its parts automatically disengage andthe part of countershaft 25 which is fast to clutch 26 comes to a stop. The mechanisms forfeeding the wire, forming the clamp, driving it and clinching the ends of the clamp are all driven by the countershaft 25, and the parts may be so timed that for every rotation of countershaft 25 a single wire clamp is formed and secured to a basket.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 5, a strand of wire 31 is shown, which may extend from a reel or other carrier. said wire being of suitable gage to form strong clamps, and of sufficient stiffness to be driven through the edge of the basket, but flexible enough to be bent over the basket cover. The wire 31 is led through a perforated car 32, or similar guide provided on the head 18, and passes from the guide 32 between a wire feeding wheel 33 and a wire tension wheel 34, both carried upon the head 18. Then the wire 31 traverses a guide tube 35 and a cutting-off tube 36, shown in Fig. 5, and extends beyond said tubes to lie adj acent the clamp forming parts, which will be described later,

. effect such feed any desirable mechanism may be employed. shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a. ratchet wheel 40 is mounted on the same shaft with gear 39, and is driven lr pawl it carried upon a crank or arm 42, which is oscillated by a lever l? pivots-lily connected to a follower arm M, pivoted. at upon the frame. coil spring 43 connected at one end to the base 15 and at the other end to arm 44 serves to hold a roller 46 mounted upon the arm firmly in contact .with the peripheri of a cam 4U, lreyled to shaft T escribed mechanism ob viously operates to feed a certain length of] the wire once for each revolution of shaft 25.

As the wirepasses between the peripheries of wheels 33 and 34, one or both wheels are made relatively adjustable, sothat different degrees of tension may be put on. the wire. The Wire tension roller 34 is preferably mounted on an eccentric shaft 48 .(Fig. 1) to which is secured a tension lever 49. A sprin 50 connects the outer end of arm 49 wit-ii an adjusting bolt and nut 51 threaded through. a bracket 52 secured to thehead 18. The tendency of spring 50 is to swing the tension lever 49 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, and to oscillate the eccentric shaft' lS so as to bring wheel 34'closer to wheel 33.

Directing attention now to Fig. 5, there is shown an'extension 53 of head 18, in which the clamp-forming parts reciprocate, said parts including the clamp formers'fid and 55 and the driving member 56 intermediate the two formers. The clamp is initially given the form of an irregular U,

with unequal arms, the former St bending the shorter aim and former 55 the longer arm. Both formers preferably have a move 54? in their opposed edges at their ower ends so as to receive the wire after the bending thereof. The driving member 56.is provided with projections 56 at the lower end to fit in the groove 54 to guide the same and to bear upon the clamp. The driving member 56 has also two projections 57 on opposite sides slidable in, grooves 58 provided in the adjacent edges of the leg ormers, for a pur ose to be made clear. Secured to the outsi e'of former 55 adjacent its lower edge is a knife 59. which by the reciprocation of former 55 is carried past the end 0f the cutting olf tube-36, said end memes providing a shearing edge for the Wire. Fig. 5 shows the position of the parts before the wire is cut by knife 59; the wire extends across head extension 53 beneath the two formers and its end reaches or almost reaches the outer guiding edge of the head extension. Y

Projecting through a. slot in the lower end of the extension is a forming bar 60 (see Fig. 9} pivoted as at 61 upon the extension. This forming bar serves as an anvil during the shaping of the wire clamp from the section of the wire cut oft by knife 59. Immediately after the clamp forming operation, the clamp has its shorter arm driven into the basket edge by the driver 56, as clearly shown in Fig. 6; and in order to withdraw the forming bar 60, reciproeating tripping linger 62, fast at its upper end to top arm 63, has its lower end beveled. as shown in 9, and in its downward movement encounters a roller (i l on the forming bar, thus swinging the forming bar out of the path of the clamp.

The top arm (33 just referred. to, is mounted on a vertical rod 6 which, as seen best in Fig. 8, extends through guides in the frame 16 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a connecting rod 65 jointed to a crank disc 66 keyed upon the power driven countershaft 25. It Will be recalled that the countershaft is rotated once each time the operator depresses pedal 30; it fol ows that the top arm 63 is reciprocated at the upper end of rod 64- once for each revolution of the countershaft.

The driving member 56 is held to top arm 63 by means of a bolt 67 or the like (Fig. 3}, passing through a slot in. the upper end of the driving member, so that the driving member reciprocates with the top arm. In. order to provide for a slight ive when the driving member forces the 0 amp into the basket, a desirable provision because of the variation in the thickness of the basket material, acompensating lever 68 is provided, said lever pivoted as at 69 upon the top arm figand having its free end 70 normally held tightly ressed upon the upper side of top arm 63 by means of a spring 7'1 mounted on a rod 72 and confined by nuts 73. A vertical pin 56* passing through a passageway formed in the top arm 63 has its upper end pro?ccting above the same and in the path of tie compensating lever 68, which in its downward movement strikes the pin and the lower end of the pin bearing on the driving member 56, the latter is forced down to engage the clamp, as shown in Fig. 7. lfhe member 56 is provided with a vertical slot 67 for the reception. of the bolt 67 (Fig. 3). The spring 71 may have its tension adjusted by means of nuts 73 so that during driving of the clamps throu h basket material of ordinary thickness, we

- springs compensating lever 68 will not be lifted; but when the basket stock is heavier than usual the compensating lever will swing upwardly a trifle, the slot 67 for the bolt 67 permitting the give.

A stop piece 55 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) in the form of a cleat is riveted to "the rear side of the former 55 in such position to contact with the upper edge of head 18 and thus allow said former to project below the driving or forming head sufiiciently to be flush with the inside surface of the basket or receptacle, and by this means the variations in the thickness of the basket rims is. provided for by the stoppingof the other former 54 when it contacts with the said basket rim (see Figure 7), and the driver 56 is allowed to recede by means of the slot 67 in the upper end of same, and the pin 56 resting on top thereof and bearing against the under side of the compensating lever 68. y

At the upper ends of the forming members 54 and 55 spring carrying rods 74 and 75 respectively are attached, and coil springs 76, 77 are mounted on the respective rods. Spring 77, which acts upon the large former 55 is the stronger of the two springs. A yoke or bracket 78 projecting from the top arm 63 rovides the upper abutment for 6 and 77. The effect of these springs is to maintain the formers normally in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the shoulders provided at the upper. ends of slots 58 resting on theprojections 57 of the driving member.- As the top arm 63 descends, the formers will simultaneously descend, and their lower ends will initially extend below the lower end of the driving member, so that the arms of the clamp are completely bent beforethe driving member strikes the clamp.

Pivoted upon the'top arm 63 are two latch members 79, 80 (Fig. 3) normally pressed inwardly by a spring 81 and each shaped to engage with the upper edge of one of the formers 54, 55. In the position of the parts shown in'Figures 3 and 5 the latches 79 and 80 are hooked over the top edges of said fo'riners, so that the formersv are forced to move down simultaneousl with the driving member 56, which, it 'wi be recalled, is reciprocated by the top arm 63 mounted on the vertically reciprocating rod 64. As seen in Fig. 3, the clam forming members, which slide in the hea extension 53, are enclosed by a head face plate or plates 82 from which a vertical arm 83 extends in the direction of the latches 79, 80. These latches referabl have rollers at their lower ends exten ing toward each other, and the arm 83 is preferably beveled at its upper end, so that as' the driving member descends, the rollers in rolling over the beveled surface of arm 83 will force the latches out of engagement with the top edges of formers 54, 55, whereupon positive drive of said formers will cease, and the springs 76, 77 will alone be active to hold down the formers.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the basket supporting arm 17 has a groove 85 which slidably receives a clamp clinching bar 86, shown separately in Fig. 8. After the driving member 56 has driven the short arm of the clamp through the basket edge, as illustrated in Fig. 6, it is necessary to bend the ends of the clamp to secure the clamp, and to provide the necessary upwardly extending arm -(Fig. 10) which is used to clamp the cover on the basket (Fig. 11). The clamp clinching bar 86 best shown in Figs. 5 and 8 has a kerf 87 at one end and has two spaced clinching rollers 88 mounted to rotate in the kerf. The bar 86 alsohas beveled surfaces 89 on opposite sides of the kerf, said beveled surfaces acting to guide the long and short arms of the wire clamp through the cut or kerf in the clinching bar, as shown in Fig. 6. The basket supporting arm has an opening 90 into which the long arm of the clamp may extend before the bending or clinching. takes place. i

To bend or clinch the wire clamp, the clinching bar is reciprocated to the left, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, whereupon the rollers 88 will engage the long and short arms of the clamp and bend them so as to extend substantially in alinement. During said bending the lower end of forming member 55 acts as an abutment or anvil for the bending by left hand roller 88, and prevents material separation of the long arm of the clamp from the upper edge of the basket. The extremity of the short'arm of the clamp is clinched by the right hand roller against the inside face of the basket edge, making impossible subsequent displacement of the clamp. Fig. 10 shows how a clamp appears after it is affixed to a basket 91 by the machine of my invention, while Fig. 11 discloses the manner in which the upwardly extending arm of the clamp may be bent over a basket top 92.

It has been stated that the clinching bar 86 is reciprocated in groove 85. To hold the bar in its groove there is provided a check plate 93 (Figs. 3 and 5). Any well known mechanism may be used to reciprocate the clinching bar, but I prefer to employ the one shown in the drawings, and including a lever 94 (Figs. 1 and 3) connected to the outer end of bar 86 and mounted upon near the lower end of said slide bar is carried a roller 101, whichacts as a follower for a cam 102, keyed or otherwise secured upon the countershaft 25. The mechanism just described obviously functions so as to reciprocate the clinching bar once during each revolution of the countershaft. A comparison-of cams 47 and 102, both shown in Fig. 1,"willmake it clear that the former cam feeds the wire while the clinching mechanism is at rest; and that an appreciable interval elapses after the wire has been fed before the clinching bar is actuated. Fig. 3 shows the relative positions of crank disk 66 (which actuates the clamp forming mechanism) and the cam 47, from which it will be understood that the operations of cutting the Wire and forming and driving the clamp occur after the wire feeding but before the clinching bar is moved outwardly.

In order to guide the long arm of the wire clamp with more certainty into the slot or kerf provided in the clinching bar, I may employ a metal plate.103 fast-to a head face plate 82 and extending down nearly to the top of the basket support 17, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the basket 91 is placed upon support 17 with its edge innermost and beneath the clamp driving member. In order to position said edge with certainty, I prefer to employ gages 104 on opposite sides of slot 85 and each having a vertical arm or abutment 105 against which the basket edge may be thrust. A screw 106 passing through a slot in each gage provides a convenient adjusting means.

The operation of my machine wil now be briefly described.

Assuming that pulley 22 is constantly driven, the operation of affixing a clamp to a basket rim is started by placing the basket in the position shown in dotted lines in the several figures, and by depressing the pedal 30. Immediately the clutch 26 is engaged and the counter-shaft 25 starts to rotate. The initial position of the parts is such that cam 47 starts to lift rod 43 as soon as the countershaft begins its rotation, with the result that the ratchet 4O feeds the wire-31 horizontally across the clamp forming head until the end of the wire reaches the position shown in Fig. 5. Immediately the vertical rod 64 starts to move downwardly, carrying with it the top arm 63 which forces the clamp forming members 54, 55 downwardly. The knife 59 then cuts off that portion of the wire extending beneath the former, while the remainder of the wire is held firmly between wheels 33 and 34. As soon as the wire is cut, it is engaged by the V grooves in the lower edges of the formers, and is bent downwardly at both ends, while its intermediate portion is held upon the forming bar 60. Then the tripping finger 62 causes withdrawal of the forming bar and simultaneously the latches 79, 80, are tripped outwardly by the beveled end of arm 83 (Fig 3).

The formers continue their downward travel until former 54 rests on the rim of the basket, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 being held by the tension of spring 76. The driver 56 now strikes the clamp and drives its short arm through the basket rim, and the former 54 during said driving provides a support for the short arm'of the clamp, insuring its passage through the basket rim in substantially a straight line. The long arm of the clamp was initially bent down to extend through the kerf in the bar 85.

WVith the parts in the position of Fig. 6, the clinching bar 86 is moved to the left, whereupon the ends of the clamp are bent and clinched as illustrated in Fig. 7. Thereupon the forming and drivingmembers rise to their initial positions, releasing the basket, which may then be withdrawn from the ma chine. The affixed clamp now appears as is shown in Fig. 10, with its long arm in a position to be readily bent over the basket cover 92, Fig. 11.

My method and means of forming and affixing clamps, it will be observed, are most effective, yet extremely simple. A single head both forms and affixes the clamp. The wire is bent once to formtwo arms, and a second time to clinch one arm to the basket and cause theother arm to extend vertically above the basket. In both bending operations, two arms are simultaneously bent. The affixed clamp substantially encloses the basket rim, and has an offset portion, as seen best in Figs. 10 and 11, particularly well adapted to seat the top of the basket.

A feature of the construction is that the formers and drivers are compensating, that is, their action varies according to the thickness of the basket material. Referring to Fig. 6 again, it will be clear that if the basket rim was of less thickness than the one shown, the driver and formers should move downwardly to a greater extent in order to insure proper driving of the clamp and the proper'form in the affixed clamp. The provision of compensating lever 68 and cooperating parts causes the driver to accominodate itself to basket rims of varying thicknesses, while the s rings 76, 77, which finally hold down the ormers as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, obviously permit the formers to assume individually numerous different positions. The offset in the wire clam is therefore always made as lon as the thickness of the basket rim, and t effree end of the clamp extends upwardly from the inner surface of the basket rim, whatever its dimensions.

The machine of m invention obviously may be operated at igh speed, so that a clamp may be formed and affixed in a fraction of a second. As many clamps as seem I desirable are secured to each basket, but in practice usually two clamps are made fast at diametrically .opposite points.

While I have described one specific embodiment of my invention, obviously my invention is not limited to the illustrative machine disclosed herein.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of torming and aflixing wire clamps ;to baskets which consists in bending a wire strand to form a U-shaped member having arms unequal in length, driving the shorter arm of the U-shaped member through the basket rim, and bending the ends of the two arms so that the shorter arm is clinched while the longer arm extends above the basket rim. 1

2. The method of forming and afiixing wire clam s to baskets which consists in cutting o a length of wire, bending the length of wire to form two parallel arms, driving one of the arms through the rim of the basket and placing the other arm against the top of the basket rim to extend transversely relative to said rim, and bending the ends of the two arms so that the driven arm is clinched to the basket rim while the other arm is extended above the basket rim. v

3. The method of forming and affixing wire clamps to baskets, which consists in bending awire strand to form two parallel arms, driving one of the arms through the rim of the basket and forcing the other arm simultaneousl against the top of the basket rim to exten transversely relative to said rim, and simultaneously bending the ends of both arms in the same direction so that the clamp is clinched to the basket and provides a bendable portion extending above the basket rim in position to be passed around a part of the basket cover to hold the cover in place.

t. The method of forming and aflixing wire clamps to baskets, which consists in bending a wire strand to form two parallel arms unequal in length, driving the shorter arm through the rim of the basket and forcing the longer arm simultaneously against the top of the basket rim to extend transversely relative to said rim, and simultaneously bending the ends of both arms in the same direction so that the clamp is clinched to the basketand provides a bendable portion extending above the basket rim in position to be passed around a part of the basket cover to holdthe cover in place.

5. The method of applying wire clamps to baskets which includes the etc of driving one leg of a wire staple entire y through the basket rim from the outside thereof to the inside and simultaneously driving the other leg of the staple across the top 0t and contiguous to the basket rim, and the further driven leg to the rim and bending the free leg upwardly to provide a cover securing arm extending substantially vertically from the top of and within the confines of the IIIII. i

7, The method of forming and applying lid clamps to basket rims which comprises 'feeding clamp stock to a staple former, si-

multaneously cutting ofi' thestock and bending it to form a staple having one leg longer than the other, driving theshort leg through the rim and the long leg across the top of the rim, clinching the short leg to the rim and bending the long leg upwardly from the rim.

8. The method of applying lid clamps to basket rims which consists in driving one leg of a staple through the rim and one leg across and contiguous th the upper edge of the rim, with its free end extending a. substantial distance beyond the opposite side of the rim, clinching the driven leg to the rim, and bending the extending end of the other leg upwardly from the rim.

9. The method of forming and applying lid clamps to baskets which comprises forming a staple with legs of unequal length, driving the short leg through the rim from the outside ofthe basket, with the plane of the staple legs at right angles to the upper edge of the rim, and with the long leg of the stable contiguous to and extending across the top edge ofthe rim, a substantial dis-,

tance within the basket, simultaneously clinching the driven leg to the inside of the rim and bending the inwardly extending end of the long leg upwardly from the rim,

and holding a portion'of said'leg against the top edge of the rim during the bending operation.

10. In machine of the class described, a wire clamp clinching and bending element comprising a slotted or kerfed bar, a pair of rollers mounted in said slot or kerf and spaced longitudinally of the bar, said bar and rollers being mounted to move across the legs of the clamp withthe rollers engaging them, the space between the rollers and the length of the slot bein such as to accommodate the clinched and cut ends.

11. In a machine of the class described,'a wire end bending element comprising a straight bar having a slot or kerf extending from one end, two rollers mounted inthe slot or kerf and havin a width approximating the width of the erf, one roller near the outer end of the kerf and the other roller spaced therefrom and from the inner end of the kerf.

12. In a machineof the class described, in

combination, a frame having a slot, a bar reciprocable in the slot, said bar being slotted and means ,mounted in the 'slot of the bar for engaging with both ends of a; wire clamp to bend said ends'when, the bar is moved in one direction.

13. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, guiding means, a bar recipio rotatable in the slot, and 'a plate mounted, parallel tothe bar upon the machine frame and adapted to guide one of a wire strand into the slot.

15. In a machine of the class described, a frame providing supporting and guiding means for the clamp forming and driving parts, in combination with two reciprocable formers of unequal widths, and a forming bar mounted between the paths of movement of the formers and cooperating therewith'to form a U-shaped clamp having unequal arms, the wider one of said formers presenting a bending abutment at its lower end for the long arm of said clamp.

16. In a machine of the class described, a driving member for forcing the clamp into the basket, and manually adjustable compensating means for forcing the driving member downwardly, whereby thedri'ving member accommodates itself to the thickness of the basket stock.

17. In a machine of the class described cooperating automatic mechanisms adapted to cut a length of wire, bend the wire to form a U-shaped. member, drive one arm of the member, through a basket rim, and bend the arms in the same direction clinching the driven arm on the rim and bending the free arm substantially'at right angles tbthe plane of the basket top.

18. In a machine of the class described, cooperating automatic mechanisms adapted to cut a length of wire, bend the wire to form a U-shaped member, drive one arm of the member through a basket rim, adjustable compensating means forcin the driving member downwardly, where the driving member accommodates itself to the thickness of the basket stock.

19. In a machine of the class described, means for forming a clamp having two sub stantially parallel arms unequal in length, means for driving the shorter aum through the material of the basket, and means for clinching said shorter arm on one side of the rim and simultaneously bending the longer arm above the rim.

20. In a machine of the class described, means for forming a clamp having two substantially parallel arms unequal in length, means for driving the shorter arm through the material of the basket, and manually adaptable compensating means accommodating the driver to baskets made of stock of varying thicknesses.

21. In a machine of the class described, means for forming a clamp having two substantially parallel arms unequal in length. means for driving the shorter arm through the material of the basket, and means for bending both arms simultaneously in the same direction to clinch said shorter arm to the basket, and convert the longer arm into a lid securing projection.

22". In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a predetermined length of wire, means for severing said wire length, means for bending said wire, means for driving one end of the bent wire through a basket, and unitary means for securing the end so driven and'also for bending the free end of the wire to extend above the basket in position to secure the lid of the basket.

23. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a predetermined length of wire, means for severing said wire length, means for bending said wire to form a'U- shaped member having unequal arms, means for driving the end of the shorter arm through a basket, and unitary means for se curing the end so driven and also for bonding the free end of the wire to extend above the basket in position to secure the lid of the basket. i

24. Ina machine of the class described, an

elongated, vertically reciprocating driving member, and compensating means therefor comprising a substantially horizontal lever pivoted at one end, a spring resisting swinging of the other end of the lever, and means connecting the ,upper end of the driving member with the lever.

, 25. Ina machine of the class described. in combination, a;reciprocating arm, a driving member mounted by a bolt "and slot connection on said arm, a lever pivoted on the arm, ,means for resisting swinging of the lever; and means interposed between the leveriand the driving member whereby variatidn in thickness of the work does not prevent the driving member from functioning perfectly.

26.f In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pair of formers, a driving member, means for causing reciprocation of the driving member, automatic means latching each former to the driving member, and means automatically unlatching said mema vertically reciprocating driving member,

of a substantially horizontal compensating lever resiliently mounted above the driving member and a lost motion connection between the driving member and the compensating lever.

29. In a machine for affixing Wire cover clamps to basket rims, the combination with a wire clamp driving member, of a compensating lever resiliently mounted above the driving member, and a lost-motion connection between the driving member and the compensating lever, said 1ostmot1on connection comprising a pin having one end bear-- ing on the driving member and its other end adapted to contact withthe underside of the compensating lever.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of clamp formers, a driving member located between the clamp formers, said clamp formers and driving member being movable in the same direction, and means for moving one of said clamp formers further than the other.

31. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination with a pair of clamp form ers, a driving member located between the clamp formers, said clamp formers and driving member being movable in the same direction, means for moving one of the clamp formers further than the other-clamp former or the driving member, and a stop to limit the movement thereof.

32. The combination with a pair of clamp formers spaced apart, a driving member located between the clamp formers, said parts all movable in the same direction, an anvil in the path of movement of the driving member, means for moving one of the clamp "formers 'further than the other and adapted to bend the clamp wire around about said anvil, means for withdrawing the anvil, said driving member being actuated to drive a part of the wire through the basket rim, and a reciprocable clinching bar cooperating with the ends of the wire.

' In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

ALBERT H. SGHMIDTKE. 

